Introduction to Vedic charts

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For those of us who may not have much exposure to Vedic astrology, or any type of astrology for that matter, things can be confusing when trying to understand some basic concepts. This description is solely for the sake of understanding Indian astrology and how it may be different or similar to some branches of astrology that many of us may be more familiar with. What would be considered a person's birth sign in Vedic astrology is determined by the sign (to exact degrees) the moon was in at the time of birth . This is known as the Janma Rasi. The Rasi themselves do not hold much weight as far as a person's interior environment goes, however, when examined properly and in combination with other factors, they can yield highly accurant and meaningful insights about an individual. The Rasi (signs) are fixed in place as parts of constellations. These signs are further divided into sub-sections of 10 degrees called Drekkana, and the constellations are divided into 27 sections called Nakshatra. These are also called lunar mansions. Nakshatra are further divided into sections of three degrees and twenty minutes called Pada So in other words, two people can share the same Rasi (sign), but they more than likely do not share the same Janma Nakshatra, or Janma Tara. It is hihgly unlikely their Varga Chakras (divisional charts) are identical. Indian astrology examines planet and ascendants to the degree, as all of these factors are of extreme importance for calculations and insights. Does it make sense that barely anyone with the same sign isn't a carbon copy of you just based on a sign? Certain characteristics specific to each Nakshatra will largely determine aspects unique to each person depending on which Nakshatra the moon (mind, emotions, and disposition) is placed in and to what degree. Second to the Janma Rasi and Nakshatra is the Janma Lagna. This is the sign that was touching the eastern horizon at the time of birth. It is the other half of the puzzle and influences the inner and outer environments of an individual. Unlike western astrology, the Sun in Vedic astrology is treated as any of the other nine planets or Graha and does not take precedence over the other factors mentioned earlier. The Sun in a person's natal chart represents their physical body and appearance, general health, their father, and their reputation during certain periods in life. Chart reading takes a great deal of integration and synthesis to come to conclusions about the dispositions, inclinations, temperments, capacities, attitudes, and characteristics of an individual before a solid conclusion can be reached. The positions of the Sun by itself plays a very small role in all of it. The sun stays in each sign for roughly a month, and observations regarding the sun are more useful when looking into things related to agriculture, rain, weather, earthquakes, floods, government matters, the health and conditions of someone's father, the role of their father in relation to them, matters of fame or rank, and as with all planets, this all depends on the context in which the Sun is being observed. Vedic astrology does not examine matters in a static fashion, and all effects from all planets depend on various factors, including their movements through different areas of space at different times.